On his first day as prime minister, Andy Burnham stood outside Downing Street and vowed to end rough sleeping across the UK. It was a striking pledge from a leader who had made—and failed to deliver—a similar promise as mayor of Greater Manchester. The latest official figures show rough sleeping in England hit a record high of 4,793 people on a single night in autumn 2025, the fourth annual increase in a row. The stakes could not be higher.
The policy is backed by an additional £340 million from the Ministry of Housing, bringing overall spending to record levels. Over five years, the government says this will provide 1,200 homes and intensive support for at least 3,000 people in England. The first steps focus on helping long-term rough sleepers move into secure housing, including the acquisition of suitable homes. Burnham described it as a commitment to "finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity."
“Andy Burnham's pledge to end rough sleeping faces record homelessness, past failures, and political hurdles.”
The pledge is not new territory for Burnham. When he became Greater Manchester mayor in 2017, he promised to end rough sleeping in the area by 2020. Figures show that while rough sleeping in Greater Manchester fell from 268 in 2017 to 149 in 2023, it rose again to 154 in autumn 2024 and then to 197 in 2025, according to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The Bed Every Night scheme he set up, partly funded by donating 15% of his salary, now provides more than 600 beds a night. The city region also pioneered the government's Housing First scheme, based on a Finnish model that prioritises giving people a secure home before addressing other issues. But critics, including Conservative shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly, point to Burnham's record in Manchester as evidence that the pledge is short on detail. "In Manchester, Burnham promised to end rough sleeping, but failed because he didn't do the hard work necessary," Sir James said. The Guardian's editorial described the pledge as "a hostage to fortune" but added that it "vividly conveyed what was meant when he talked about 'the right values and the right standards'."
For UK readers, the policy has direct consequences. Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, and its rise has become a symbol of the cost-of-living crisis and housing shortages. The new funding could mean more local authority homes and support services, but success depends on overcoming systemic barriers. The i Newspaper noted obstacles including immigration policy, the benefits system, and a lack of council homes. Housing and homelessness are devolved matters, so Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for their own strategies—Burnham's pledge applies across the UK, but coordination with devolved governments will be key. Channel 4 News reported that Burnham has promised greater devolution of power away from Westminster, which may influence how the policy is implemented in Wales and beyond.
Q: What is the Housing First model? Housing First is an approach that gives homeless people a secure, permanent home without preconditions like sobriety or employment, then provides intensive support. It originated in Finland and was trialled in Greater Manchester under Burnham. The new national policy is based on this model.
Q: Why has rough sleeping increased despite previous pledges? Factors include rising housing costs, cuts to social housing, the cost-of-living crisis, and limited support for those with complex needs. In Greater Manchester, rough sleeping initially fell but then rose again, reflecting the challenge of sustaining progress amid economic pressures.
Q: How does the new funding compare to previous spending? The £340 million is described as additional funding, bringing overall spending on rough sleeping to record levels. It is earmarked for 1,200 homes and support for at least 3,000 people over five years, but critics question whether this is enough given the scale of the problem.
What happens next will be watched closely. Burnham has set a clear direction, but his government faces immediate tests: delivering the housing and support, overcoming Whitehall resistance (the Guardian warned of Treasury caution), and managing the politics of devolution. The prime minister has said he wants to be judged on results. With rough sleeping at a record high, the clock is ticking.